New hip technique feels more natural

Dr. Michael Cobb talks to Natalie Elbrow.

Younger, active patients who need hip replacement surgery because of arthritic hip pain could be candidates for a new procedure being done by Dr. Michael Cobb, a board-certified orthopedic surgeon at West Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic.

Dr. Cobb is one of two physicians in Jackson who has gone through training to do the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing procedure. “Unlike traditional hip replacement surgery, this procedure does not remove as much bone,” says Dr. Cobb. “The benefits of conserving bone include a more natural-feeling hip, and if the hip resurfacing needs to be revised later, the surgeon has more bone to work with, allowing him to do a ‘primary’ total hip rather than a more complicated ‘revision’ procedure.”

Candidates for the procedure tend to be younger, usually under 55 years of age, and active. They must have healthy bone with no osteoporosis or severe hip deformity, Dr. Cobb says. “This procedure is not for everyone, but it does provide a good option for those who meet the criteria.”

The Birmingham Hip technique removes the rough, damaged surface of the hip joint bone and replaces it with a durable metal-on-metal resurface. The procedure has a proven track record and is FDA approved.

Osteoarthritis, caused by wear and tear on the hip joint, is a common cause of hip pain. Other causes include insufficient blood flow to the hip and injury.

Hip replacement surgery has become a common surgery these days to relieve pain in the hip joint and improve a patient’s function and mobility, Dr. Cobb says. Whenever possible, he uses minimally invasive practices, which result in smaller scars, less pain and quicker recovery times for the patient.

Surgical techniques and the materials used to replace the joint continue to improve, he says. The newer materials that are being used for hip replacements are more durable with less friction between the two surfaces. The union between the bone and artificial components is more secure and stable.

Other improvements include better antibiotics to prevent infection and medicines to reduce the incidence of blood clots.

The result, says Dr. Cobb, is that patients who have hip replacement surgery recover faster and can return more quickly to work and their daily activities.

“We’re always looking for improvements in how we treat hip joint problems,” he says. “For the right candidate, the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing procedure is yet another improvement.”